Chimney-cleaner and safety device



C. MICHELS, Sn.

CHIMNEY CLEANER AND SAFETY DEVICE. APPLICAHON FILED Nov. 12. HI?- 1,320,887. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

amwwtoz a Hozh e1 ten CHIMNEY-CLEANER AND SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Application filed November 12, 1917. Serial No. 201,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Mlcrrnns, Sin, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anamosa, in the county of Jones and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chimney-Cleaners and Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to chimneys and it is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved cleaning and safety device therefor, capable of being readily attached to a chimney without alteration thereto and serving as means for cleaning the same as it becomes necessary and also, preventing the burning of the chimney due to the ignition of soot and other matter adhering to the inner surfaces of the side walls thereof.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which can be operated from the base of a building on which the same is arranged, thus rendering the device effective for use in emergencies.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The improvements in the details and arrangement of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying draw;- ings, in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting a full understanding of the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through the device,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section therethrough, and,

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of the cleaning of a fire extinguishing element.

Having more particular reference to the drawings and in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts in the several views, 1 represents the chimney of a building, the same, as will be obvious, being of conventional construction and design.

Supporting means are provided for the attachment and include oppositely disposed legs 2, the lower portions of which are offset as at 3 and securely engaged with clamping elements 4, the adjacent ends of the elements are bent laterally as at 5 and apertured in order that bolts or other suitable connecting means may be passed therethrough. In this connection, it is to be noted that one of the legs comprises spaced vertically disposed pieces, the upper ends of which are curved as at 6 in order that the similarly formed upper end 7 of the remaining leg may be secured therebetween as at 8; further that by reason of the offset portions 3, the pieces 2 will be firmly supported on the top of a chimney with which they are engaged, thus, providing an eflicient support for the weighted cleaning element described. Mounted between the spaced pieces is a pulley 9 formed of metal or other fire proof material and serving for a purpose which will be presently apparent. The legs 2 may be and preferably are formed of insulating material in order that the same will not serve as means for conducting current to the chimney, should the building be struck by lightmng.

Arranged on the curved upper ends of the legs 2 is a housing or hood 10, which as will be readily understood, serves to protect the pulley 9 and the chimney 1 from the elements.

Movably arranged over the pulley 9 is a length of wire or other similar material having one end thereof engaged with a weighted cleaning element 11, which cleaning element as will be noted, is of a shape conforming to the shape of the interior of the chimney 1 and adapted to be snugly received .by the same. To avoid the possibility of the hanging of the cleaning element 11 with the walls of the chimney when lowered into engagement therewith, the lower portions of the same are preferably curved and tapered. The lower or remaining end of the wire is adapted to be normally engaged with a suitable form of keeper secured to the building on which the chimney is arranged, at a point in proximity to the base of the same whereat it may be conveniently reached by a person.

When using my improved chimney cleaning and safety device, to lower the weighted element 11 into the chimney it is only necessary to disengage the free end of the wire from its keeper, whereupon the said element 11 due to its Weight will be permitted to move downwardly into engagement with the chimney. By moving the cleaning element 11 upwardly and downwardly in the chimney, the side walls of the same may be sufliciently cleaned, thereby insuring a proper dra'ft through the same. In the event of fire draft therein and as a consequence, smothering the fire.

It is to be understood, that the wire operating element engaged with the cleaner 11 may be arranged over any number of pulleys or other guide elements, such as conditions or preference may dictate. Such guide elements, however, are preferably formed of insulating material, thus preventing the conducting of electricity to any part of the building should the same be struck by lightning.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim In a chimney cleaning device, a supporting frame consisting of a pair of spaced sup porting pieces having their upper ends curved and an oppositely disposed supporting piece having its upper end curved and extended between the curved ends of said pair of supporting pieces and connected thereto, the lower portions of each of said supporting pieces being oifset laterall and having their extremities arranged su stantially parallel to the sides thereof, clamping means engaged with the extremities of the ofisetpo-rtions adapted to secure the same to a chimney at a point below the engagement of the lateral offset portions with the top of said chimney, a pulley rotatably supported between the curved upper portions of said spaced pair of supporting pieces, a hood arranged over the curved upper ends of the supporting pieces having its top spaced therefrom to permit of free rotation of the pulley, a cable passing over the pulley, and a weighted cleaning element secured to the end of the cable.

In testimony whereof, I .afliix my signature hereto.

CHARLES MICHELS, SR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

